A Sanskrit word meaning body or form. The four coarsest of seven categories of “worlds” or beings are sometimes called rūpa as in rūpa-lokas or rūpa-devas etc. In the technical sense in theosophy the word implies an atomic or monadic system around a discrete consciousness. It does not necessarily imply concrete physical form, but can relate to any subtle vehicle used by higher beings such as DhyānI-Chohan. One of the five SKĀNDHAS.

M.A.

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